Presetting cabinet



Oct. 30, 1951 H. RICHTER 2,572,893

PRESETTING CABINET Filed Aug. 27, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Oct. 30, 1951 H. RICHTER PRESETTING CABINET 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1947 H. RICHTER PRESETTING CABINET Oct. 30, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 27, 1947 Oct. 30, 1951 RlcHTER 2,572,893

' PRESETTING CABINET Filed Aug. 27, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l H Q V INV ENT0R. 62727" 7, V j

Patented Oct. 30, 1951 PRESETTING CABINET Henry Richter, Kankakee, Ill., assignor to Paramount Textile Machinery 00., Kankakee, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 27, 1947, Serial No. 770,826

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in presetting cabinets for subjecting textile fabrics, such as hosiery, to a process of treatment in an enclosed chamber following the knitting operation, and it may be used with particular advantage in treating by the action of steam stockings knitted from synthetic linear polyamide fibres such as those known as nylon.

The principal object of the invention is to provide steam treating apparatus comprising a steam treating chamber in which large batches or groups of hosiery may be treated rapidly in successive treating periods or cycles during each of which the admission of the steam, the duration of the treatment and the duration of an operation of exhausting the steam and drying the hosiery are automatically effected and controlled. A further object is to provide steam treating apparatus having a cycle of operations which are automatically controlled and which are initiated by a manual operation of the attendant, such as the closing of the door of the cabinet in which the treatment takes place. Still another object of the invention is to provide steam treating apparatus for hosiery comprising a cabinet into which a large number of stockings may be moved while suspended on hangers carried by a truck, in combination with means for automatically admitting steam to the cabinet, measuring the duration of the steam treatment after a predetermined temperature is reached in the cabinet, shutting off the steam, admitting air under pressure to the chamber and exhausting the steam therefrom, and determining the period during which the exhaust takes place. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment is illustrated. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the front of the steam treating cabinet with the doors open and with a hosiery carrying truck in position within the cabinet;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the hosiery carrying truck with a hosiery hanger rack supported thereon;

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged end elevation of the hosiery carrying truck, with parts thereof broken away, illustrating the hanger racks mounted thereon and the hosiery hangers suspended from the racks;

Fig. 4 shows a horizontal section through an intermediate part of the cabinet with the doors closed and with the hosiery carrying truck removed;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the rear and one side of the steam treating cabinet shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the apparatus for controlling the admission and exhaust of steam, the admission of air and the control of successive steps of the cycle performed within the cabinet; and

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically the circuit connections of the various units of apparatus by which the cycle of operation of the apparatus is effected and controlled.

As illustrated in the drawings, the invention comprises a cabinet I0, formed of metal, having a base ll upon which are mounted the vertical walls comprising side walls [2 and a rear wall l3 which are connected at their upper edges by the top wall It. The entire forward side of the cabi net is open but is adapted to be closed by the doors I5 which are carried by hinges I5a attached to the forward edges of the side walls l2. As shown particularly in Fig. 4, the side walls I2 and the rear wall l3 are formed as inner and outer sheet metal shells, thus providing intervening air spaces l6 which may, if desired, be filled with heat insulating material. The inner and outer shells are separated and spaced apart by vertical angle bars I! and other angle bars l8 are connected to the inner and outer shells at the corners of the structure.

The bottom wall comprises a bottom plate located within the base H and this bottom plate has mounted above it the upper bottom shell l9 which is in the form of a flat plate extending continuously across the bottom of the cabinet but having its lateral edges spaced slightly from the side walls I2 and the rearwall I3 as shown at 20 in Fig. 4 to permit the flow of steam upwardly around the plate l9 from the space between the upper and lower shells of the bottom wall. These upper and lower shells of the bottom wall are spaced apart by a plurality of channel,

members 2| which radiate outwardly from the center of the bottom wall. The plate I9 is thus firmly supported and at the same time a number of channels are provided for distributing steam beneath the plate l9 and for facilitating the drainage of water of condensation along the bottom shell of the bottom wall toward the center of this plate which is depressed and which has connection with a drainage pipe 22. Steam is supplied to the space between the upper and lower shells of the bottom wall through a pipe 23 which 3 has an opening through the bottom shell of the bottom wall as shown in Fig. 4.

The doors i5 have the same formation as the outer walls of the cabinet, 1. e., they have inner and outer shells forming an intervening closed air space which may be filled with heat insulating material if desired. The angle-shaped frame members at the edges of the door are provided with sealing strips of rubber or other compressible material so that a fluid-tight joint is formed when the door is closed. Along the outer edges of the doors and along their upper and lower edges these strips 25 are adapted to engage the edges of the stationary walls of the cabinet. Along its inner edge one of the doors carries a sealing strip 25 which is mounted at an angle to the plane of the doors as shown in Fig. 4, so that it engages a corresponding angularly disposed surface on the edge of the other door when they are closed. The doors are adapted to be locked in closed position by a locking bolt 26 carried by the door which overlaps the other at its inner edge and which is adapted to be actuated by a handle 21 through a toggle connection 28 so that the parts of the bolt 25 may bemoved vertically for engagement with apertured lugs 29 which are mounted at the upper and lower edges-of the door opening.

The rear wall 13 of the cabinet is provided with a rectangular opening 30 arranged to communicate with a housing 3| attached to the rear of the cabinet, shown in Fig. 5, and adapted to form a closure for a fan 32 driven by the fan motor 33. The opening 30 at the inner margin of the housing 3|, which is normally closed by a louvre 34, provides a passage through which air driven by the fan 32 is projected into the cabinet when the motor 33 is in operation. The rear wall l3 of the cabinet is also provided with a circular opening 35 near its upper edge whichcommunicates with a pipe 36 having mounted therein a damper 31 arranged to turn with its shaft 38 for the purpose of opening or closing the open ing 35. This opening is provided for the purpose of permitting the steam within the cabinet to be ejected or exhausted when air is driven into the cabinet by the fan 32. This air is preferably heated in its progress through the housing 3| so that after the steam is ejected the hot air will have a drying eifect upon the articles of hosiery through an operating connection 39a extending to a crank 39 fixed on a horizontal shaft 40 pivotally mounted in bearings at the rear ofthe cabinet, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The shaft 38 has fixed thereon a crank arm 4| which is pivotally connected to a rod 42' extending downwardly and having a pivotal connection with a crank arm 43 fixed on the shaft 40. The end of this shaft has fixed thereon another crank arm 44 provided with a longitudinal slot which is engaged by a pin 45 fixed on the end of a rod 46 adapted to be moved endwise by the operation of a control motor 48 located in a casing 50 attached to the side wall l2. When the control motor 43 is operated the shaft 40 is turned to open the louvre 34 and at the same time open the damper 31 so'that the steam and hot air will be discharged at the same time that the hotair is driven into the cabinet by the fan.

At the front of the cabinet there is provided an inclined ramp 52 over which there may be rolled the hosiery carrying truck 53 upon which the articles of hosiery are suspended during the heat treating operation. An inclined plate 54 is hinged on the lower edge of the bottom plate 19 of the cabinet and is adapted to be swung downwardly over the upper edge of the ramp 52 when the doors 15 are open so that the truck 53 may then be rolled into the cabinet on it wheels or rollers 55. The lateral wheels of this truck are adapted to travel between guide bars 56 which are secured to the bottom plate I9 and which diverge at their forward ends so that they direct the truck to a central position in the cabinet wherein the hosiery carried thereby will not contact with the walls of the cabinet.

The truck 53 comprises a rectangular lower frame 51 which is supported by the wheels as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The wheels are carried by brackets 58 which are mounted for pivotal movement about vertical axes, in the manner of casters, so that the wheels 55 may move angularly during the travel of the .truck. To facilitate the turning of the truck and the movement of it into and out of the cabinet, the wheels 58 which are centrally located at the ends of the truck are at a somewhat higher elevation than the two wheels 55 at the sides of the truck so that the truck is adapted to be tilted on the side wheels and to travel normally on three wheels. At its ends, the truck is provided with end frame members. 59 which are of inverted V-formation. These end frames are connected to the bottom frame 51 by inclined brace members 60 and are connected at their upper ends by a longitudinal bar 6| from which there extend in opposite directions a plurality of parallel rods, 62 provided with enlargements 62a at their ends. Near the upper ends of the end frame members 59 there are provided transverse handles 53 by which the truck may be moved by the operator.

The rods 62 are adapted to support a plurality of hanger racks 65 from which the hosiery hangers 56 are suspended. These racks may preferably be of the form described and claimed in the copending application of George E. Dunn and Henry Richter, Serial No. 730,006, filed February 21, 1947, and the hosiery hangers suspended therefrom may preferably be of the form described and claimed in the copending application of William C. Wagener, Serial No. 715,801, filed December 12, 1946, now Patent No. 2,506,910, dated May 9, 1950. Each rack 65 comprise three longitudinal members 55a and three transverse members 6517. The longitudinal members are provided with recesses 650 at intervals for engagement by the hooks 65a of the hangers 66. Each hanger comprises a stem 65b having mounted at the lower end thereof a circular member 550 from which project upwardly a plurality of needles 56d. The stem has slidably mounted thereon a sleeve 55c which carries at its lower end a shroud 66! adapted to extend over the points of the needles when the articles of hosiery 61 have been placed thereon as shown in Fig. 3.

Since there are three pairs of projecting rods 52 on each side of the bar 5| of the truck, it is possible to mount six hanger racks 65 on the truck and, in the embodiment illustrated, each hanger rack is capable of carrying twelve hangers. It is normal practice to place four stockings on each needle and each of the hangers illustrated comprises six needles, so it is apparent that by the arrangement illustrated in the drawi g it s p ss e to effect the steam treatment of a very large number of stockings in one operation.

When a truck 53 has been loaded with the desired number of hanger racks 85 and hangers 86 having the stockings suspended therefrom, the truck 53 is rolled over the ramp 52 and the plate 54 into the chamber of the cabinet, where it occupies a position such as that illustrated in Fig 1. The plate 54 is then turned upwardly into the cabinet and the doors I are closed, whereupon the locking bars 26 are operated to secure the doors in closed position. The closing of the doors I5 is adapted to set in operation the steps of the treating cycle which take place automatically in response to the operation of the circuit which is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 6. The controlling apparatus includes the fan 32, fan motor 33, louvre 34, damper 31, and control motor 48 which have previously been referred to and also various other pieces of apparatus which are illustrated in Fig. 5 and diagrammatically in Fig. 6. These additional units of apparatus include a switch 18 adapted to be closed by the operation of closing the door, a temperature controller 1I responsive to the temperature within the chamber of the cabinet for determining the point at which the steam treating operation begins, a timer 12 for controlling the duration of the steam treatment at the predetermined temperature which is fixed by the controller H, a timer 13 for controlling the duration of the exhaust period throughout which the air is discharged into the cabinet by the fan 32, a solenoid operated steam valve 14 for controlling the admission of steam from a source of supply to the cabinet, a relay 15, a second relay 18 and a third relay 11. All of these parts are. connected in an electric circuit comprising line conductors 8| and 82 which have fuses 83 and 84, respectively, connected therein, and which lead through the double pole switch 85 by which a connection is established with other conductors leading to the various devices connected in the circuit. This circuit also includes a pilot light 86 which is energized at the conclusion of the cycle to indicate to the operator that the cycle has ended.

As shown in Fig. 5, the steam is supplied through a pipe, not illustrated, leading to the valve 98 from which a pipe 9| leads to the housing 3I for heating a suitable radiator or the like by which the air discharged into the cabinet is heated. From the valve 98 another pipe 92 leads through a pressure regulator 83 to the solenoid valve 14 and from this valve the steam passes to the pipe 23, previously referred to, which leads through the lower shell of the bottom wall of the cabinet. The timers 12 and 13 as well as the control motor 48 are located in the casing 58 and the temperature controller 1| is mounted on the wall of the cabinet as shown in 5. This controller has a connection 95 extending to a thermostat 98 mounted in an aperture in the wall of the cabinet so that it is responsive to the temperature within the cabinet.

At the beginning of the operation of the apparatus, the switch 85 is manually closed, and then upon closing the doors I5 of the cabinet, the limit switch I8 is closed, thereby energizing the coil of the solenoid valve 14 through a circuit comprising the line conductor 8|, switch 18, switch 85, conductors 91 and 98, contact 94, conductor 99, switch arm I88 of the timer 12, contact I8l, conductor I82, terminal I83, conductor I84, solenoid valve 14, and conductor I85, contact I88 of the temperature controller 1|, switch arm I81 of the temperature controller 1i, and conductors I88, I89, I18 and III to the other line conductor 82.

The valve 14 is normally closed but when the temperature in the cabinet is below the predetermined value desired, the switch arm I81 engages the contact I88, as just described, thereby opening the valve and admitting steam to the cabinet promptly after the closing of the doors I5.

When the temperature in the cabinet arrives at the desired value, the switch arm I81 of the controller 1I moves into engagement with the contact II2, thereby causing the solenoid valve 14 to open and closing the relay 15 to start the operation of the timer 12 which controls the duration of the steam treatment. This circuit leads from the line conductor 8| through switch 85, conductors 91 and H4, relay coil 1511, conductor II5, relay contact II 8, relay contact bar II1, contact 8, and conductors H9, H8 and III to the other line conductor 82. This circuit through the relay 15 maintains the circuit of the timer 12 even though the temperature drops in the cabinet after the timer is started in operation.

At the same time that the holding circuit just described is established the timer 12 starts operating to measure a period of duration or the steam treatment corresponding to the setting of the pointer of the timer. This timer operating circuit includes the line conductor 8|, conductors 9 1 and 98, terminal 94, conductor 99, switch arm I88, contact I8 I conductor I82, terminal I83, conductor I28, timer motor I2I, conductor I22, terminal I23, conductors I24 and H5, contacts H8, H1 and H8, and conductors H9, H8 and III leading to the line conductor 82.

The timer 12 then operates through the steam treating period at the end of which the switch arm I88 of this timer drops down into engagement with the contact I25, thereby opening the circuit of the timer motor I 2| and at the same time establishing the circuit of the field of the control motor 48. This last mentioned circuit includes the line conductor 8!, switch 85, conductors 91 and 98, terminal 94, conductor 99, switch arm I88, contact I25, conductor i28, terminal I21, conductors I28 and I29, terminal I38 of the control motor 48, field winding 48a, terminal I3I, and conductors I32, H8 and III leading to the other line conductor 82.

The control motor controls the operation of the damper, the fan motor and the louvre during the exhaust period. In' order to operate the control motor it is necessaryto complete the circuit of the wiring 48b connected between the terminals I33 and I34 and this is efiected through the operation of the relay 11 through a circuit comprising a line conductor 81, switch 85, conductors 91 and 98, terminal 94, conductor 99,

' switch arm m, contact 125, conductor m, terminal I21, and conductors I28, I35, terminal I36 of timer 13, conductor I31, switch arm I38 of timer 13, contact 139, conductor I48, terminal I, conductors I42 and I43, coils 11a of the relay, and conductors I44, H8 and III to the other line conductor 82.

when the coil 11a of the relay 11 is energized, the contacts I33 and I34 of the control motor are closed through a circuit comprising the conductor I45, the contacts I45, and the conductor I 41. At this time, the timer 13 is also started in operation through a circuit which extends from the terminal I21 of the timer I2 through the conductors I28 and I35,-terminal I38, conductor I31. switch arm I38, contact I39, conductor I40, terminal I4I, conductor I48, timer motor I50, conductor I5I, terminal I52, and condu'ctors H9, H0 and III extending to the line conductor 82.

When the timer I3 starts to operate, the fan motor 33 is also caused to operate through circuit connections which extend from the line conductor 8I through the switch 85, conductors 91 and 98, terminal 94, conductor 99, switch arm I00, contact I25, conductor I26, terminal I21, conductors I28 and I 35, terminal I36, conductor I31, switch arm I38, contact I39, conductor I40, terminal HI, conductor I42, fan motor 33, and conductors H0 and III leading to the other line conductor 82.

The fan motor 33 then operates to cause heated air to be driven into the cabinet and the steam and air to be withdrawn therefrom through the exhaust period which is determined by the setting of the pointer of the timer I3. At the end of this exhaust period, the contact arm I38 of the timer I3 drops down into engagement with the contact I54 of this timer to stop the timer motor I50 and at the same time the relay TI is deenergizedtostop the fan motor 33.

When the relay TI is deenergized. its armature drops down and connects the conductor I41 with the conductor I 55, thereby connecting the terminals I34 and I 55 of the control motor which actuates the control motor to close the louvre 34 and the damper 31.

The stopping of the motor of the timer I3 establishes a circuit leading from the line conductor 8! through the connections of the timer'IZ to the terminal I21 and thence, through the conductor I35, terminal I36, conductor I 31, switch arm I38, contact I54, conductor I58, terminal I59 and conductor I60 to the heater element of the time delay relay I6, from which the conductors I6I, I89, H0 and III lead to the line conductor 82. When the time delay relay I6 .operates, the circuit of the pilot light 86 is established through the conductor I62 leading from the relay ing of said ports and said introduction of steam and said exhaust of steam and air.

to the conductor III and the line conductor 82,

will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments which come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In presetting apparatus of the class described, a cabinet, means in said cabinet for supporting fabric articles, means for introducing steam into said cabinet, means for thereafter exhausting said steam from said cabinet, means for automatically determining the duration of the introduction of steam, the duration of the exhaust and the interval between the introduction of steam and the exhaust, a signal, and means for automatically actuating said signal a predetermined interval after the termination of the'exhaust.

2. In presetting apparatus of the class described, a cabinet having an air inlet port and an exhaust port, means for supporting fabric articles in said cabinet, means for introducing steam into said cabinet, means for introducing air through said inlet port and exhausting steam and air through said outlet port, and means for automatically controlling the opening and clossteam introduction and exhaust periods, and an electric circuit including said motor and said timers.

4. In presetting apparatus of the class described, a cabinet having an air inletport and an exhaust port, means for supporting fabric articles in said cabinet, means for introducing steam into said cabinet, means for introducing air through said inlet port and exhausting steam and air through said outlet port, means including a control motor for opening and closing said ports, means including motor driven timers for controlling the starting and duration of the steam introduction and exhaust periods, an electric circuit including said motor and said timers, and a signal device connected in said circuit and adapted to be actuated a predetermined interval after the termination of said exhaust period.

5. In presetting apparatus of the class described, a cabinet having a door opening, doors for closing said opening, means in said cabinet for supporting fabric articles, means for introducing steam into said cabinet, said cabinet having inlet and exhaust ports, means for introducin air under pressure through said inlet port and thereby causing steam and air to be exhausted through said outlet port, means for opening and closing said ports, means for automatically controlling the timed relation and the duration of said steam and air introducing means and said port opening and closing means, and means actuated by the closing of said doors for initiating the operation of said controlling means.

6. In presetting apparatus of the class described, a cabinet having a door opening, doors for closing said opening, a hosiery supporting truck movable through said opening into said cabinet, means for introducing steam into said cabinet, and means actuated by the closing of said doors for starting the operation of said steam introducing means.

7. In presetting apparatus of the class described, a cabinet having a door opening, doors for closing said opening, a hosiery supporting truck movable through said opening into said cabinet, means for introducing steam into said cabinet, means actuated by the closing of said doors for starting the operation of said steam introducing means, means for exhausting steam from said cabinet, and means for automatically controlling the duration of operation of said steam introducing means and said exhausting means.

8. In presetting apparatus of the class described, a cabinet having outer walls and upper and lower floor shells, said upper shell having its marginal edges spaced from said outer walls to provide a steam inlet, means for supporting fabric articles in said cabinet, and means for introducing steam into the space between said shells.

9. In presetting apparatus of the class described, a cabinet having outer walls and upper and lower floor shells, said upper shell having its marginal edges spaced from said outer walls to provide a steam inlet, means for supporting fabric articles in said cabinet, means for introducing steam into the space between said shells, said lower shell having an outlet for steam condensate and having a slope toward said outlet, and spacing members between said shells radiating from said outlet.

10. In presetting apparatus of the class described, a cabinet. means in said cabinet for supporting fabric articles in a loose, unstressed condition within the cabinet, means for introducing steam into said cabinet in contact with said articles, said cabinet having an opening and an exhaust port in its wall, a housing communicating with said opening, and means in said housing for The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,926,694 Berger Sept. 12, 1933 2,207,972 Cissell July 16, 1940 2,243,997 Berger et al June 3, 1941 2,299,041 Schwartz Oct. 13, 1942 2,316,001 Kitzmiller Apr. 6, 1943 2,451,978 Richter Oct. 19, 1948 2470 265 Richter May 17, 1949 

